GUN Man shoots friend while hunting cows

Man shot on bizarre cow hunting job
Duo hired by butcher to find, kill animals that are still on the loose after escaping
Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, April 14, 2007

In what Duncan/North Cowichan RCMP are describing as a "bizarre" incident, a 19-year-old man was shot Thursday evening while hunting cows with a friend.

Police became involved when a 26-year-old man called them on his cellphone about 8:30 p.m. to report he had accidentally shot his hunting partner and was driving him to Cowichan District Hospital in Duncan. Police met the pair at the hospital.

RCMP Const. Sue Boyes said the details are sketchy, but the two men were apparently hired by a butcher to track down and kill two cows that had escaped from a pasture in the area of Lake Cowichan and Walker roads.

"They were actually instructed by the butcher to shoot them and salvage what meat they could and take it back to him," Boyes said.

"We're still trying to determine the identity of the butcher."

Boyes said the area where the shooting took place is very rural. The cows, which had been in a pasture, broke through a fence and escaped.

The two men apparently had been walking in a heavily wooded area when one was suddenly startled by his partner. He let off a round from a .44-calibre rifle, striking his partner in the chest, Boyes said.

"We're trying to put the details together -- the events leading up to the shooting. We've gone out to the scene to try to reconstruct what happened," she said.

"They were both walking in a heavily wooded area, and a possible scenario is that the person who was shot startled the other male. But that's speculation right now."

The victim was treated at Cowichan General Hospital and later transferred by ambulance to Royal Jubilee.

Police found four weapons in the vehicle. Three were rifles and the other a sawed-off shotgun. The 26-year-old has been charged with possession of the shotgun, a prohibited weapon. He is to appear in court June 19.

Boyes said there are no charges yet in relation to the shooting.

"That will be determined later on in the investigation. For right now there's just a weapons charge."

The victim is in stable condition.

"He's expected to spend a few days in hospital and then be released," Boyes said.

more like track and execute Don't have much experience with cows but seen them a few times while hunting/hiking/dirt biking upstate, they dont seem to try to get away from you, can just walk right up and shoot them.

more like track and execute Don't have much experience with cows but seen them a few times while hunting/hiking/dirt biking upstate, they dont seem to try to get away from you, can just walk right up and shoot them.

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cows are stupid animals. when i go shooting on our farm they will come up to you